Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
The biggest mistake you can make is to assume that your opponent is a better or worse person than you are. Often, you can chalk up the difference of opinion to a difference in values.
I've talked about thist bit at the Trump thread. The problem with the GOP is that much of its platform is guided by biblical values, which renders discussion nigh impossible.
This is not about believing that one person is better than other, but the cold hard fact that some people are willing to listen and move their positions while others are not. This is also why leftists (not just in America, but around the world) tend to implode or devolve into civil war at the smallest crack while corraled conservatives become even more adamant. Just check the GOP's progression over the past eight years. Or paraphrasing ronito, when Dems lose it's all "aw shucks", but when the GOP does it's all "YIHAAAAAAAAAD".
The Democratic side (and particularly Sanders, since he has that non establishment halo) could try to seduce those Republican voters that are not against abortion or gay marriage, and I believe that not only would be incredibly beneficial for America, but that it could take much less effort than many people think. The religious side of the GOP, however, is uncrackable. And tragically, it makes as huge part of the party.